Improvement in barbed fences



H. R. BURROUGHS.

Barbed-Fence.

No. 219,067. Patented Sept. 2, 1879.

NFETERS. FNOTO-LITH0GRlPNERI WASHINGTON. D. U.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY R. BURROUGHS,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BARBED FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 219,067, dated September 2, 1879; application filed June 4, 1879.

. To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY R. BURROUGHS,

of Chicago, .Oook county, State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Barbed Fences, of which the following is a full description, reference being had to the acsingle strip with a barb applied thereto. Fig.

4 is a section at line 00' of Fig. 3.

As barbed fences are now made cattle and horses are liable to be seriously injured by the barbs, which are rigidly attached to the wire or metal strip forming part of the fence. 7

The object of my invention is to construct a barbed fence in such manner that it will be efficient, but will not be dangerous, which Iaccomplish by means of flat strips of metal to which barbs are loosely applied, as hereinafter fully set forth.

In the drawings, A represents flat strips of metal of any suitable width and length. They may be made of steel or galvanized iron, or of common'iron suitably coated to prevent rust, in any known way.

a are barbs, made preferably of sheet metal. As shown, they are star-shaped and have six points; but they may have a greater or less number of points. These barbs are loosely connected with the strips A, each by means of a rivet, b, and so that each barb can rotate freely on its rivet, the barb being preferably placed on the face or top of the strip Ain the completed fence. These strips A, with loose barbs a, are secured to the posts B, so that the strips and barbs thereon stand at right angles with the posts, presenting the points of the barbs, or some of such points, toward an approaching animal. The strips maybe'let into, or partly into, the posts by sawing therein,

and may be secured by means of nails 5 or they can be held in place by means of staples, one edge of the strip being placed in contact with the posts.

As shown, the barbs are countersunk at the center, which gives a little more freedom of movement.

I am aware that barbs have been rigidly secured to flat bands, the bands being in a vertical position and the prongs of the barbs being bent so as to stand in different directions.

I am also aware that barbs have been placed loosely on a wire, so as to rotate thereon, as shown by Patent No. 67,117, to Wm.D. Hunt, the barbs being in vertical planes at right angles to the wire.

Animals are likely to come in contact with barbs at various angles thereto, and frequently when moving in lines nearly parallel with the fence. [n all such cases barbs which can be rotated on a wire are not likely to be rotated at all, but will be cramped on the wire, and

will frequently tear the flesh as the animal suddenly mo'ves but in such cases, if barbs be used which rotate in planes which are horizontal instead of vertical, the barbs must rotate with the movement of the animal, and will not tear the flesh, but will be withdrawn therefrom without material injury. At the same time a sufficient warning will be given to the animal.

The action of a barb which rotates in a horizontal plane is very different from that of a barb-which rotates on a wire and in a vertical plane.

My improvement provides for the rotation of many-pointed barbs in a horizontal plane. I do not claim, broadly, a rotating barb.

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:-

1. As an improvement in barbed fencing material, a strip of metal, A, provided with barbs a, each barb being connected with such strip by means of a single rivet, b, and in such manner that the barb can rotate on the rivet, substantially as specified.

2. A barbed fence consisting of posts B and flat strips of metal, A, provided with barbs a, connected with such strips by means of rivets b, and so that the barbs can rotate easily, such, strips being secured to the posts, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

HENRY B. BURROUGHS.

Witnesses:

O. W. BOND, F. F. BRUNS. 

